Chapter 35: Bits and Pieces

Joshua ran at full speed and reached his apartment in barely 40 minutes—38.12 minutes to be exact. He grinned as he caught his breath, not out of exhaustion but sheer excitement.

"Wow! I don't even feel tired at all. I must be clocking more than 60 kph! Insane!"

He hurriedly undressed and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water soothe his muscles. The day had been exhausting in its own way—not physically, but mentally. Between calculations, experimentation, and an impromptu drinking session, he needed this reset.

As he lay on his bed, he went over his strategies once more—offense, defense, efficiency. He had crunched the numbers, but now he needed to make them work in reality.

Closing his eyes, he connected.

Joshua woke up to a familiar wooden ceiling. He blinked a few times before sitting up. His muscles ached slightly, a dull soreness radiating through his limbs.

"Huh? Why though?" he muttered, rolling his shoulders.

Then it hit him. He had been offline for almost a day, which meant he had been absent from this world for around five days.

That shouldn't matter, right? He wasn't actually here. Or was he?

A creeping realization made his stomach tighten. He lifted his hands, flexing his fingers, then touched his arms. His body was still here.

"The hell?"

In every other VRMMO he had played before, logging out meant his in-game avatar vanished from the world. A standard feature, designed so players wouldn't be vulnerable while offline. But here, his body remained, untouched yet still affected by the passage of time.

Which meant—

A sudden wave of hunger hit him like a punch to the gut. His stomach twisted painfully, and his throat felt dry as if he hadn't eaten for days.

"What kind of sick game is this?" Joshua gritted his teeth. "I actually need to eat in here? I can actually starve?"

This wasn't just a game. No, it was something more.

His mind raced. He had never seen any system interface, no logout button, no inventory, nothing artificial. The world around him didn't feel scripted or pre-programmed—it felt real. More than that, it seemed to be following rules far beyond anything a standard game engine could replicate.

What was this place?

A shiver ran down his spine. He needed answers.

Joshua crossed his legs and took a deep breath, forcing his mind to focus. Meditation had become a part of his daily routine here, and it seemed to help regulate his core's energy. He let himself sink into the process, feeling the ebb and flow of energy within him.

A few minutes passed, and he noticed something strange—his core felt swollen. Overfilled, almost. Like his body had been left to passively absorb energy without an outlet to release it.

He stopped immediately, exhaling sharply.

"So, even when I'm not here, my core still accumulates energy?" He frowned. That was dangerous. If he had stayed offline longer, would his core have overloaded?

That was another question he needed answered.

Joshua rose to his feet, stretching once more before making his way to the door. If there was anyone who could explain this insane reality, it was his master.

He needed to find Maydee.

Joshua walked slowly down the dimly lit hallway, lost in thought. Then suddenly, a whisper came from behind him.

"You're finally awake," Bran said.

"What the fuck?!" Joshua flinched, spinning around. "Oh, it's you. You're really creepy, dude."

Bran smirked. "It is my job to watch you. Now go to the chief. He wants to talk to you. Your master is with him."

Joshua sighed. "Great. I was just about to do that."

With a final glance at Bran, Joshua continued toward the chief's hall, his mind swirling with unanswered questions.

Joshua stepped into the chief's hall, the massive wooden doors closing behind him with a low creak. The dim torches flickered against the stone walls, casting long shadows that made the room feel even more imposing.

Maydee stood beside her father, arms crossed, her piercing gaze locked onto him.

"Master, you're here," Joshua said, offering a slight nod.

"Yes, disciple," she corrected firmly. "You were unconscious for four days. Your body remained still, yet it kept absorbing energy on its own. How do you feel?"

Joshua rolled his shoulders, feeling the stiffness in his muscles. "Sore. And starving."

Maydee gave a small nod and turned to her father. "Father?"

Amador leaned forward in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "I will be brief." His voice was steady, authoritative.

"Outsider, Bran reported your progress. Your growth in magic is remarkable. But now, the question remains—have you recovered your memories?"

Joshua tensed. This was the moment. He could lie again, claim ignorance, keep things simple. But what would that accomplish? He clenched his fists, steadying his resolve.

"Chief, I have to be honest. I was thrust into this world without warning. I don't know how or why, but I was fortunate enough to arrive near this village. Even luckier to meet my master and learn magic under her guidance. But it is true—I am an outsider. In reality, I am more than that… I am a traveler between worlds."

Silence filled the hall.

Joshua inhaled deeply. "As unbelievable as it sounds, that is the truth."

Maydee exhaled sharply. "Finally," she muttered. "Father, he did not lie."

Amador studied him for a long moment before nodding. "So… what are your intentions? Why have you come?"

Joshua's jaw tightened. "I refuse to be mediocre. Where I come from, I was less than average. You saw how weak I was when I arrived here. But in this world, I have a chance to become something greater. To have purpose. Whether it be fame, wealth, or power—I want it all. Or at the very least, the opportunity to prove myself."

Amador observed him in silence, his expression unreadable. Then, after a moment, he exhaled.

"Ambitious words, disciple," he said. "But the spirits sense no ill will in you. Your resolve is strong. Your determination, unwavering."

Another pause, then Amador gave a slow nod. "Good. When I decide what to do with you, Bran will bring you to me. Until then, learn. Become someone useful."

Joshua bowed. "Thank you, Chief."

"If that is all, Father, we will be taking our leave," Maydee said. She turned to Joshua, her expression firm. "Come, disciple."

"Yes, Master."

As Joshua and Maydee disappeared beyond the heavy wooden doors, Amador remained seated, his fingers drumming against the armrest of his chair. The flickering torchlight cast deep shadows over his hardened features.

A heavy silence filled the room before he spoke.

"Bran."

A figure emerged from the darkness, his presence like a whisper of wind against stone. His movements were soundless, his expression unreadable. "Yes, Chief?"

Amador's eyes remained fixed on the closed doors. His voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of command.

"Keep an even closer eye on him." He turned his head slightly, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "The moment he loses his mind or loses control—end him."

Bran didn't hesitate. "Understood, Chief."

A long pause stretched between them before Amador exhaled, his eyes narrowing. "Also, tell Maydee to train him well. We will be making a move soon, and his power will be needed."

Bran nodded, his presence fading like a shadow blending into the darkened corners of the hall.

Amador leaned back in his chair, staring into the flickering flames.

"Let's see if you truly have what it takes, outsider."